Sports

BASKETBALL: Great Oak guts out Southwestern League win

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Murrieta Valley had difficulty hitting its field goal attempts. The Nighthawks made only five of 17 shots in the third quarter and five of 13 in the fourth.

âWe did what we were supposed to do in practice yesterday to get ready for them,â said Nighthawk junior guard Kevin Padlo, who scored a game-high 18 points. âOur defense was a little shaky at the end, and I guess we had a couple of bad offensive possessions.â

Smith scored 11 first-half points, including three 3-pointers, helping the Wolfpack lead by as many as seven points in the first half.

âMy teammates got me open with screens, and I work on those 3-point shots in practice,â said Smith. âWe practice hard in our gym to get ready to play in tough places like this.â

Murrieta Valley chipped away, cutting the deficit to one point heading into the final quarter.

A 3-pointer by Thomas Alexandre brought the Nighthawks to within 47-46 with 3:40 remaining.

The Nighthawks are only a game out of first place. But the road doesnât get any easier.

âIâve been around so long, and I talk to coaches in other leagues,â said Murrieta Valley coach Steve Tarabilda. âThey all say thereâs no way they would play in our league. Itâs brutal every night. Youâve got to be prepared. There are no nights off.â

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